I usually just tie a weight on and then a hook

A friend of mine says I should use a slip sinker rig. The only difference in what I always did and what he said to do is that his way has a barrel swivel and a slip weight.
Either way the hooks still ends up on the end.

I told him the catfish doesn't know the difference. He said they do. sounds crazy to me

That is how the people I know that catch big fish rig theirs

It helps to place a bead between the barrel swivel and the slip sinker so the sinker does not cause wear on the line at the swivel.
The fish can tell the difference because when they pick up the bait, the line slips through the swivel and they are not picking up or tugging the weight.
If you employ a clicker, the catfish can swim away with the bait with little resistance until you turn the handle to enable the drag and set the hook.

Ocelot.
The picture is a good one. It’s used a lot with live and cut baits and I’ve even used it with cheese bait.
There are some mods that folks use, but the basics (the picture) remain the same (santee-cooper rig, is one effective and popular variation).

Awesome rig! Only thing I do differently is use this sinker slide so I can change my weight without having to re tie depending on current. I fish mostly rivers so one day it’s rushing and the next it’s calm.

I started using a santee cooper rig. It's like the one your showing but with a float to keep your bait off the bottom.

All of this makes sense now. The fish cant feel the weight .let them run a little before setting the hook.
Thx Everyone.

I use a slip weight for flatteries but for blues I prefer a swivel with a snap on it for the weight. Makes it easy to change weights when needed.
I don’t think the drag of a weight effects the fish most of the time. I have had half pound to sixty pound fish drag a line with a three ounce weight from one end of the boat to the other.
I think a float near the hook keeping the bait out of the mud is most important.

when fishing straight down do you still need the float? That seems like it would defeat the purpose of a slip weight.

Do you let it hit bottom and leave the line slack? (using a float above hook)

Not for fishing vertically

I been using this: with slinkies or bank sinkers or disc sinker - do use a float 3-4-6" above the hook, varied leader length - if one leader length seems to be working better I'll change All to match.



Barrel swivels can help with line twist when catfish rolls/ spins......
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What length leader do you guys use most of the time?

Wayne

Most of my drift rigs are 2-3 ft but I also keep a few 12-18” for days that the barometer is high and the fish are laying on the bottom. Most days 2 ft will get the job done. I use a Carolina rig with a 3 ft leader and no float when I use a vertical rig in the summer. I don’t vertical rig in the winter because I’ve noticed that big blues won’t hit a vertical rig nearly as good as they will a long line or a planer rig.

Have not been out for big cats yet this fall. Going to try next week. My Grandson's last day of school is Friday. He is ate up with fishing fever. He goes off to College next fall, so he won't be around much anymore after that.

Wayne

Heres how i did mine